Romans 16:17
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The instruction to "avoid them" isn't just about staying away; it's about actively turning aside, as if diverting your path to steer clear of danger. This implies a proactive, intentional separation, not just a passive avoidance of their presence.
Paul is concluding his letter, and after a long discussion about unity and peace between Jewish and Gentile believers, he offers a final, crucial warning. He urges the Roman Christians to be on guard against those who would disrupt this hard-won unity by teaching things contrary to the core truths they've received. This instruction is meant to protect the church from internal strife and false teachings that could lead believers astray.
Paul doesn't just warn about 'bad people.' He points to specific actions that undermine the church's unity and faith. What are these actions, and why are they so dangerous?
Paul uses two key Greek words to describe the harmful actions he wants the Roman believers to watch out for:
Paul emphasizes that these actions are specifically 'contrary to the doctrine you have been taught.' This means they directly oppose the core teachings of the gospel. The goal isn't just to disagree; it's to actively disrupt unity and lead people away from truth. The commentaries suggest these 'divisions' could stem from insisting on specific practices (like Jewish law) or from a general spirit of faction, while 'offenses' might be from harshly disregarding weaker believers or by leading others into sin through one's own actions.
The danger: These actions don't just create minor disagreements; they actively dismantle the community and endanger the spiritual well-being of individuals.
Paul doesn't leave us guessing about how to respond to these divisive people. His instruction is clear, direct, and has practical implications for our lives.
Paul's command is two-fold:
Mark Them (skopein): This isn't about gossip or condemnation, but about careful observation and discernment. It means to observe attentively, to be on guard, and to identify who these individuals are and what they are doing.
Understand the original words
didachē · Greek Noun
The body of truth, teaching, or apostolic instruction delivered by Christ and his apostles, which serves as the authoritative foundation for Christian faith and conduct.
The warning in Romans 16:17 is rooted in Paul's ongoing concern for church unity, especially the tension between Jewish and Gentile believers. This verse directly addresses the potential for false teachers to exploit these differences, a problem Paul had already witnessed and addressed in other churches.
c. AD 49
Council of Jerusalem
The Jerusalem council addressed the issue of Gentile converts needing to follow Mosaic Law. The decision was that Gentile believers were not required to be circumcised or follow all the ceremonial laws.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
During his ministry in Corinth, Paul encountered divisions and false teachers, experiences that informed his later warnings to other churches, including Rome.
c. AD 55
Paul writes 1 Corinthians
Paul addresses significant divisions, factionalism, and ethical/doctrinal issues within the Corinthian church, highlighting the dangers of internal strife.
c. AD 57— this verse
Paul writes Romans
Paul writes his epistle to the Romans, aiming to unify Jewish and Gentile believers and establish sound doctrine. He dedicates significant portions to addressing differences and promoting peace.
This passage echoes the warning against divisive teachers by instructing believers to not associate with those who teach different doctrines, highlighting the importance of sound teaching.
2 Timothy 3:5This verse describes people who have a form of godliness but deny its power, providing a spiritual profile of those who might cause divisions and offenses, as mentioned in Romans 16:17.
Titus 3:10This passage directly addresses how to handle divisive individuals, stating that a divisive person should be warned once, and then avoided, which strongly parallels Paul's instruction in Romans 16:17.
Galatians 1:8This verse emphasizes that even an angel from heaven preaching a different gospel should be accursed, reinforcing the gravity of Paul's warning in Romans 16:17 against those who deviate from established doctrine.
Matthew 7:15Jesus himself warns about false prophets who come in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves, mirroring the need to 'mark' and avoid those causing divisions and offenses mentioned in Romans.
vincentRomans 16:17: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
Divisions - offenses (τὰς διχοστασίας - τὰ σκάνδαλα)The article with each noun points to some well-known disturbances. The former noun occurs only in Paul.Avoid (ἐκκλίνατε)Better, as Rev, turn aside. Not only keep out of their way, but remove from it if you fall in with them.
jfbRomans 16:17: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
- Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned—"which ye learned."and avoid them—The fomentors of "divisions" here referred to are probably those who were unfriendly to the truths taught in this epistle, while those who caused "offenses" were probably those referred…
The instruction to "avoid them" isn't just about staying away; it's about actively turning aside, as if diverting your path to steer clear of danger. This implies a proactive, intentional separation, not just a passive avoidance of their presence.
Paul is concluding his letter, and after a long discussion about unity and peace between Jewish and Gentile believers, he offers a final, crucial warning. He urges the Roman Christians to be on guard against those who would disrupt this hard-won unity by teaching things contrary to the core truths they've received. This instruction is meant to protect the church from internal strife and false teachings that could lead believers astray.
Paul is concluding his letter, and after a long discussion about unity and peace between Jewish and Gentile believers, he offers a final, crucial warning. He urges the Roman Christians to be on guard against those who would disrupt this hard-won unity by teaching things contrary to the core truths they've received. This instruction is meant to protect the church from internal strife and false teachings that could lead believers astray.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Romans 16:17 is available in the Sola app.
Avoid Them (ekklinate): This is a strong call to distance oneself. It means to turn aside, to shun, and to actively remove yourself from their influence.
Essentially, Paul is saying: 'Know who is threatening the foundational truth and unity of the church, and then purposefully keep your distance from their influence.' This is a call to protect the integrity of the faith passed down to them.
c. AD 62-64
Paul's Imprisonment and Later Epistles
During his imprisonment (possibly in Rome), Paul writes epistles like Philippians, warning against similar divisive influences and false teachings that threatened the unity of the church.
"I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them." — The instruction to "avoid them" isn't just about staying away; it's about actively turning aside, as if diverting your path to steer clear of danger. This implies a proactive, intentional separation,…
